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LFE Parish Council - Response of the Highways Agency (M69 LINK ROAD) Submitted by: Jim on Aug 05, 2006

Response of the Leicester Forest East Parish Council to the Highways Agency consultation for the proposed M1 Junctions 21/21a development.

SECTION BETWEEN JUNCTION 21 AND 21A (M69 LINK ROAD)

Submitted to the Highways Agency August 2006
Introduction

1.The Leicester Forest East Parish Council recognises the need to improve the M1/M69 Junctions 21/21a because of endemic Southbound traffic congestion during both morning and evening rush hour periods.

It also recognises that the said Southbound traffic congestion is the main contributor to air pollution in the M1 corridor area of the Parish, leading to that area of the Parish being designated an Air Quality Management Area, ‘AQMA’ by Blaby District Council.

Therefore, the Leicester Forest East Parish Council welcomes measures to reduce traffic congestion on the Southbound M1.

2.This document is the formal response of the Leicester Forest East Parish Council to the Highways Agency Consultation for the proposals for the M1/M69 Link and Junctions 21/21a.

It sets out the reasoned opposition of the Leicester Forest East Parish Council and others to the initial proposal of the Highways Agency and also presents alternative schemes which it believes to be much less environmentally damaging to the area of the Parish Council and also very much more cost effective overall.

The Leicester Forest East Parish Council response to the Highway Agency proposal for the M1/M69 link and Junctions 21/21a

The considered view of the Leicester Forest East Parish Council to the current Highway Agency single proposal as presented is that it would have an extraordinarily and unnecessarily severe environmental impact upon the people living in Leicester Forest East, for the reasons that:

the proposal is unnecessarily complex, expensive and over-engineered, through requiring the:
-construction of five bridges for the M1/M69 link, plus
-a parallel replacement over-bridge on the A47 Hinckley Road,
-substantial reconstruction of the Leicester Forest East Service Area (Northbound) and
-an extended dual carriageway link road of approx. 2 km;
-the proposal to replace the Hinckley Road over-bridge will:
-cause extensive and prolonged disruption during construction,
-require compulsory purchase of house sites and front gardens,
-create a final, unnecessarily contorted road line with ‘orphaned’ open spaces;

-the proposal does not minimise ‘land take’ as the proposed scheme does not use land on the East side of the M1 already owned by the Highways Agency.

Further, ‘land take’ is maximised by proposing a new, 2 km, dual carriageway for the M1/M69 link across existing farmland to the South of housing in Leicester Forest East.

Further ‘land take’ would be required for a service road accessing the Northern side of the Leicester Forest East Service area immediately to the South of existing housing, because the existing service road and bridge is proposed to be demolished in the Highways Agency Scheme;

-the severe environmental impact of the proposed scheme on central and Southern Leicester Forest East, together with its prolonged delay in implementation until 2013/5, will unnecessarily blight house sales in the area during that time. There is anecdotal evidence that this has already started.

The Highways Agency has not put forward alternative schemes for public consultation and consideration, nor has it consulted local people and councils before commencing design of the M1/M69 link and Junctions 21/21a.

The Leicester Forest East Parish Council believes that alternative schemes for the M1/M69 link and Junctions 21/21a should be considered which will:

-be much cheaper and give very much better ‘value for money’,
-have a minimal or nil additional environmental impact on housing in central and Southern Leicester Forest East.
-Have a lesser environmental impact on housing in other suburban areas.

Alternative schemes proposed by the Leicester Forest East Parish Council for the M1/M69 link and Junctions 21/21a.

The alternative schemes considered by the Leicester Forest Parish Council divide into two main proposals, either:

-that the site of the M1/M69 link flyover should be moved to the South of the Leicester Forest East Service Area, using the land already owned by the Highways Agency

-or that access to the existing motorway and road system should be substantially modified to reduce traffic conflict and congestion and also to link with the large ‘Park & Ride’ scheme to the South of Fosse Park.

Alternative scheme 1
Move the site of the M1/M69 link flyover to the South of the Leicester Forest East Service Area, using land already owned by the Highways Agency

A free-flowing link between the M1 and the M69 formed part of the original plans for junction 21. Its design reflects the M6/M69 link junction near Coventry except that an over-bridge was designed for the M1 junction whilst the M6 junction is an under-bridge.

A 1970 ‘Geographia’ map of Leicester shows this clearly. The site of the loop round from the M1 to the M69 has now been built upon as part of the Meridian development, Map I. opens a new window to the orignal document

Map I – 1970 plan for the M1/M69 link at Junction 21

In 1980 the Department for the Environment purchased a strip of land on the East side of the M1 between the Leicester Forest East (S) Service Area and Junction 21, as evidenced at the Land Registry.

The first alternative proposal for the M1/M69 link & Junction 21/21a has the components of:

-moving the site of the Southbound (only) flyover to the South of the Leicester Forest East Service Area, starting midway between the Leicester Forest East Southbound Service Area and Junction 21;

-using that land already owned by the Highways Agency adjoining the East of the M1 carriageway between the Leicester Forest East Service Area and Junction 21 as the slip road to the Southbound (only) flyover to the Westbound M69;

-the line of both the Southbound flyover and (existing) Northbound link road should be to the South-East of the English Heritage site at Lubbesthorpe, substantially minimising the impact of the scheme on wildlife, ecology and archaeology;

-both the Southbound M1 - Westbound M69 carriageway and the Eastbound M69 - Northbound M1 carriageway could follow the line of the existing M69/M1 Northbound link. The M69/M1 Northbound link will need improvement for a limited length.

The comparative features of this alternative scheme are that:

-only two bridges are required, the flyover for Southbound M1/M69 traffic over the M1 and a bridge to cross the M69 for the same traffic.

Against this, four bridges are required for the link road in the Highways Agency initial proposal, plus a flyover and reconstruction of a parallel new bridge on the A47 Hinckley Road. There is a substantial saving in bridge costs for this scheme;

-the Leicester Forest East Service Station North side does not require rebuilding, a very substantial savings in costs of the scheme;

the length of both new dual carriageway and flyover for the M1/M69 Link is much reduced, a substantial saving in costs of the scheme;

the existing A47 bridge remains with no house or land purchase required, a very substantial reduction in costs of the scheme and disruption to the A47 Hinckley Road, Leicester Forest East and outer-West Leicester.

The Leicester Forest East Parish Council considers that this first alternative scheme will achieve the objectives of traffic management for the overall M1/M69 scheme but has the beneficial effects of:

-having a minimal or nil additional environmental impact on housing in central and Southern Leicester Forest East;

-no dual carriageway is required, motorway traffic is limited to 8 lanes through Leicester Forest East;

-no access road is required to the North side Leicester Forest East Service Area as it will not need rebuilding and the existing access service road and bridge remains;

-a very significant reduction in the impacts on wildlife, ecology and archaeology of the Junction 21 to Junction 21A area;

-housing purchase blight on Leicester Forest East will not occur.

Map II – Alternative scheme 1 opens a new window to the orignal document

Overview of Alternative schemes 2-4

Modify access to the existing motorway and road systems to reduce traffic congestion and link with the proposed Fosse Park ‘Park & Ride’

These alternative schemes aim to reduce traffic congestion on all roads leading to M1 Junction 21 and its roundabout, by the creation of a new junction approximately 900 metres South of the existing M1 Junction 21.

These alternative schemes use the existing bridge over Leicester Lane, Enderby and Leicester Lane itself and are successive developments of each other.

Each alternative scheme migrates a number of tributary roads to the current roundabout at Junction 21 to the new junction. Analysis shows:

Eight major flows of traffic around the current M1 Junction 21:
-M1 Southbound to A5460 Eastbound (L) (via slip road and roundabout)
-M1 Southbound to M69 Westbound (R)
-M1 Northbound to A5460 Eastbound (R)
-A5460 Westbound to M1 Southbound (L) (via new 2006 slip road)
-A5460 Westbound to M1 Northbound (R)
-A5460 to M69 Westbound (S)
-M69 Eastbound to A5460 Eastbound (S)
-M69 Eastbound to M1 Northbound (L) (via slip road)

and eight minor traffic flows from
-M1 Northbound to M69 Westbound (travelling from Lutterworth to Hinckley)
-M69 Eastbound to M1 Southbound (travelling from Hinckley to Lutterworth)
-M1 Northbound to M1 Southbound (U-turning traffic)
-M1 Southbound to M1 Northbound (U-turning traffic)
-M1 Northbound to M1 Northbound (traffic which mistakenly left the motorway)
-M1 Southbound to M1 Southbound (traffic which mistakenly left the motorway)
-M69 Eastbound to M69 Westbound (U-turning traffic)
-A5460 Westbound to A5460 Eastbound (U-turning traffic)

The M1/M69 Junction 21 problem is considered in this set of alternative schemes to be the traffic turning right in each major flow at the junction, which are indicated by ‘(R)’ above and the traffic passing straight on at the junction, which are indicated by ‘(S)’ above. It is this problem which leads to queuing traffic on the M1, the M69, the A5460 and the M1 exit slip roads.

Creating a new junction South of the existing M1 Junction 21 links well with the proposed Park & Ride scheme at Enderby and also with any future plans for an Enderby by-pass.

Alternative scheme 2
Migrate two M1 Junction 21 traffic flows to a new junction on Leicester Lane
The second alternative scheme migrates two of the flows from M1 Junction 21 to the new junction, viz:
-M1 Northbound to A5460 Eastbound (R)
-A5460 Westbound to M1 Southbound (L)

The intention of Alternative Scheme 2 is to reduce queuing on M1 Northbound and the A5460 Westbound. The impact on the roundabout is to reduce the traffic by about 17% i.e. that traffic travelling from the M1 Northbound onto the A5460, which has to cross streams of traffic that also use the roundabout.

This alternative scheme has the components of:

-creating a new junction with access from the M1 Northbound onto the local road network and access from the local road network to the M1 Southbound. These accesses are then closed to normal traffic at Junction 21;

-using the existing Leicester Lane, Enderby, East of the new junction as a dual carriageway of two lanes Eastbound. Improvements at the junction with the B4114 St Johns, Enderby would be required. However, Alternative Scheme 2 allows M1 Northbound to Leicester traffic to flow as far as the B4114 St Johns, Enderby before meeting any hindrance such as traffic lights, which would remove any need for queuing traffic on the M1 Northbound exit slip and back onto the motorway itself;

-a new Westbound carriageway of 2 or 3 lanes from the B4114 St Johns, Enderby to the new motorway junction would be required, with a slip road from the B4114 St Johns, Enderby, Northbound into the new road;

-retaining the minor access from M1 Northbound to M69 Westbound, as a new direct slip-road connection (keeping traffic off the junction 21 roundabout) so as to ensure that Junction 21 is only used for this minor traffic flow. Clearly, if assessments show that this traffic flow is negligible, the M1 Junction 21 Northbound exit could be closed to normal traffic or even replanted;

-making Leicester Lane, Enderby, West of the new junction one-way (Eastbound only) at that point, so as to prevent a major traffic flow from "flooding" Enderby.
The comparative features of this alternative scheme are that:

-no bridge alterations are required, no flyovers are required and no M1/M69 link road, a very substantial saving in costs of the scheme;

-the inclusion of the Leicester to M1 Southbound traffic flow into the design separates this major flow away from the A5460, improving traffic flows in that area, and yet joins the motorway with a local road network of considerable capacity, similar to that already at Junction 21;

-relatively little traffic flow is diverted from the existing M1 Junction 21, meaning that this may not be a sufficiently extensive scheme;

-impact on the local community should be minimal as the new exit and entry slip-roads would for the most part be in a cutting. Uphill access onto the M1 Southbound would be to the East of the M1 where there is minimal housing. Additional sound barriers considered appropriate.
Map III - Alternative scheme 2 opens a new window to the orignal document

Alternative scheme 3
Migrate three Junction 21 traffic flows to a new junction on Leicester Lane and introduce a flyover from the M69 Eastbound to the A5460
The third alternative scheme migrates three of the flows from M1 Junction 21 to the new junction, viz:
-M1 Southbound to A5460 Eastbound (L)
-M1 Northbound to A5460 Eastbound (R)
-A5460 Westbound to M1 Southbound (L)

and introduces a single flyover for:

-M69 Eastbound to A5460 Eastbound (II)

The intention of Alternative Scheme 3 is to reduce queuing on M1 Northbound, M1 Southbound, M69 Eastbound and the A5460 Westbound.

The impact on the roundabout is to reduce the traffic by about 42% i.e. that traffic travelling from the M1 Northbound onto the A5460, which has to cross streams of traffic which also use the roundabout; that traffic travelling from the M69 Eastbound onto the A5460 and that portion of traffic travelling from the M1 Southbound onto the A5460 which doesn’t use the slip-road.

This alternative scheme has the components of:

-creating a new junction with access from the M1 Northbound and M1 Southbound onto the local road network and access from the local road network to the M1 Southbound. These accesses are then closed to normal traffic at Junction 21;

-using the existing Leicester Lane, Enderby, East of the new junction as a dual carriageway of two lanes, possibly expanding to three or four lanes on the Eastbound carriageway as traffic from the new M1 Southbound exit slip merge. Improvements at the junction with the B4114 St Johns, Enderby would be required.

Alternative scheme 3 could allow M1 Northbound to Leicester traffic to flow as far as the B4114 St Johns, Enderby before meeting any hindrance such as traffic lights, which would remove any need for queuing traffic on the M1 Northbound exit slip and back onto the motorway itself;

-a new Westbound carriageway of two or three lanes from the B4114 St Johns, Enderby to the new motorway junction would be required, with a slip road from the B4114 St Johns, Enderby Northbound into the new road;

-once the new South junction is in place, introducing a flyover from the M69 Eastbound directly onto the A5460 Eastbound, closing other access to the A5460 Eastbound from Junction 21. This means that M69 traffic bound for Leicester could reach the junction with the A563 ring road or with the A5460 and B4114 Narborough Road before meeting any traffic lights;

-retaining the minor access from M1 Northbound to M69 Westbound, via the roundabout, but since the A5460 Eastbound is no longer accessible from the roundabout, the existing flow onto the roundabout can be retained and the impact on traffic flow at the roundabout and on queues on the M1 Northbound are negligible;

-making Leicester Lane, Enderby, West of the new junction one-way (Eastbound only) at that point, so as to prevent a major traffic flow from "flooding" Enderby.

The comparative features of this alternative scheme are that:

-no bridge alterations are required, only one flyover is required and no M1/M69 link road, a very substantial saving in costs of the scheme;

-the inclusion of the Leicester to M1 Southbound traffic flow into the design separates this major flow away from the A5460, improving traffic flows in that area, and yet joins the motorway with a local road network of considerable capacity, similar to that already at Junction 21;

-separation of the traffic exiting the M1 Southbound at Junction 21 onto the M69 from that bound for Leicester (which would then be at the new junction), reduces queuing for the exit slip road at Junction 21, improving safety to a level consistent with the Highways Agency scheme;

-impact on the local community should be minimal as the new exit and entry slip-roads would for the most part be in a cutting. Uphill access onto the M1 Southbound would be to the East of the M1 where there is minimal housing, additional sound barriers considered appropriate;

-the M1 Southbound exit slip road at the new junction would be on an embankment, proximate to business premises and the new flyover would affect business premises at the Meridian Business Park. Consideration for noise reduction needs to be made there. The new flyover might affect the farms of Lubbesthorpe and mitigation of that needs to be considered;

-Alternative Scheme 3 would have a major impact on queues on the M1 (both Northbound and Southbound) and on the M69 Eastbound and a consequent reduction in pollution arising from queuing traffic in those areas. Clearly, Alternative Scheme 3 moves some of that queuing to the A5460 Eastbound (in the case of M69 traffic), to Leicester Lane and the B4114 St Johns, Enderby in the case of the M1 traffic. However, the effect is an overall improvement on the initial Highways Agency proposal, which addresses only M1 Southbound onto the M69 Westbound and M69 Eastbound onto the M1 Northbound as far as the A47 bridge.

Map IV - Alternative scheme 3 opens a new window to the orignal document

Alternative scheme 4
Migrate four Junction 21 traffic flows to a new junction on Leicester Lane and introduce a flyover from the M69 Eastbound to the A5460
The fourth alternative scheme migrates four of the major flows from M1 Junction 21 to the new junction, viz:

-M1 Southbound to A5460 Eastbound (L)
-M1 Northbound to A5460 Eastbound (R)
-A5460 Westbound to M1 Northbound (R)
-A5460 Westbound to M1 Southbound (L)

and introduces a single flyover for:

-M69 Eastbound to A5460 Eastbound (II)

Alternative Scheme 4 extends Alternative Scheme 3 by moving all M1 access to the local road network to a new junction South of Junction 21, leaving access to the M69 at Junction 21.

The impact on the roundabout is to reduce the traffic by about 58% i.e. that traffic travelling from the M1 Northbound onto the A5460, which crosses streams of traffic which also use the roundabout; that traffic travelling from the M69 Eastbound onto the A5460, that portion of traffic travelling from the M1 Southbound onto the A5460 which doesn’t use the slip road and that traffic travelling from the A5460 to the M1 Northbound.

This alternative scheme also migrates some of the minor traffic flows.

This alternative has the components of:

-creating a new roundabout junction with access to and from the M1 Northbound and M1 Southbound onto the local road network. These accesses are then closed to normal traffic at Junction 21;

-using the existing Leicester Lane M1 bridge and creating a new bridge for the South side of the roundabout;

-creating a new dual carriageway East of the new junction, leading to a new junction with the B4114 St Johns, Enderby;

-closing the existing Leicester Lane, Enderby, West of the new junction and making it one way Eastbound onto the new island;

-reducing the flow of traffic at the new roundabout compared with the traffic on the existing Junction 21, improving queues on the M1 and on the local road network;

-once the new South junction is in place, introducing a fly over from the M69 Eastbound directly onto the A5460 Eastbound, closing other access to the A5460 Eastbound from Junction 21.

This means that M69 traffic bound for Leicester could reach the junction with the A563 ring road or with the B4114 Narborough Road South before meeting any traffic lights;

-strengthening of the M69 Eastbound slip road onto the M1 Northbound, without the need for widening of access onto the M1 at Junction 21 Northbound as other M1 Northbound entry slip traffic has joined the M1 at the new junction;

-removing the minor access from the M1 Northbound to the M69 Westbound via the roundabout so as to allow for the new M1 Northbound entry slip road. Traffic would need to either use the local road network to reach Junction 21, or an access from the new roundabout, West of and parallel to the M1 could be built to the Junction 21 roundabout.

The comparative features of this alternative scheme are that:

-No existing bridge alterations are required, only one new under-bridge and one flyover are required and no M1/M69 link road, a substantial saving in costs of the scheme;

-the inclusion of all Leicester to M1 traffic flow into the design separates these major flows away from the A5460, improving traffic flows in that area, and yet joins the motorway with a local road network of considerable capacity, similar to that already at Junction 21;

-Separation of the traffic travelling onto and off the M69 from that travelling onto and off the M1 (which would then be at the new junction), reduces queuing for the exit slip road at Junction 21, improving safety to a level consistent with the Highways Agency scheme;

-impact on the local community should be minimal as the new exit and entry slip roads would for the most part be in a cutting. Uphill access onto the M1 Southbound would be to the East of the M1 where there is minimal housing.

Additional sound barriers could be considered if appropriate. The M1 Southbound exit slip road at the new junction would be on an embankment, proximate to business premises and the new fly over would affect business premises at the Meridian Business Park.

Consideration for noise reduction needs to be made there. The new fly over would seem likely to affect the farms of Lubbesthorpe and mitigation of that needs to be considered;

-alternative scheme 4 would have a significant impact on queues on the M1 (both Northbound and Southbound) and on the M69 Eastbound and a consequent reduction in pollution arising from queuing traffic in those areas.

Clearly, Alternative Scheme 4 moves some of that queuing to the A5460 Eastbound (in the case of M69 traffic), to Leicester Lane and the B4114 St Johns, Enderby in the case of the M1 traffic. However, we believe the effect is an overall improvement on the Initial Highways Agency Proposal, which addresses only M1 Southbound onto the M69 Westbound and M69 Eastbound onto the M1 Northbound as far as the A47 bridge.

Map V - Alternative scheme 4 opens a new window to the orignal document

Outline comparative scoring of schemes

It is possible to conduct an outline comparative study in general terms of the separate schemes proposed which is both meaningful and appropriate when criteria are rigorously applied. The comparative scoring of schemes can be viewed on the Leicester Forest East Parish Council webite as a spreadsheet.

The analysis on the spreadsheet demostrates that each of the alternative proposals have a number of measures in favour of them, balanced by some disadvantages.

Overall, the analysis shows that these alternative schemes need to be examined in more detail.

Conclusion

The description of the separate alternative schemes for the improvement of the Junction 21/21a and the Ml /M69 Link, together with their comparative analysis given in the previous section clearly shows that:

-the initial Highways Agency scheme is the most expensive, has the highest short and long term environmental impact, the highest disruption for Leicester Forest East, the highest ‘land take’ which it does not already own and a unique ability to cause ‘housing blight’ in Leicester Forest East;

-moving the flyover to between the Leicester Forest East service area and Junction 21 uses land that the Highways Agency already owns, is substantially less expensive, minimises additional environmental impact to Leicester Forest East, substantially minimises ‘land take’ and will not cause ‘housing blight’;

-other schemes to develop an existing Ml bridge at Leicester Lane, Enderby, into a restricted junction connected to the B4114 at the Leicestershire Police Headquarters, connected to a large ‘Park & Ride’ scheme on Leicester Lane, by using modified existing motorway structures, offer the least cost, least environmental impact, least disruption, minimum ‘land take’ and zero ‘housing blight’.

The overall conclusion is that there are viable, realistic, very cost effective alternative schemes of much less environmental impact for the Junction 21/21a and Ml/M69 Link compared to the initial Highway Agency proposal.

These alternative schemes must be examined.

To view the document in the original format with maps please vist the Leicester Forest East Parish Council August 2006